CHAPTER LXXII

THE CAPE COMMAND

[Sidenote: 1860. Jan. 1.]

At Windsor Castle. Ladies-in-Waiting--Lady Caroline Barrington, Hon. Mrs. Bruce, and Lady Ely, while the Maids of Honour were Hon. Beatrice Byng and Hon. Emily Cathcart.

[Sidenote: Jan. 5.]

Shooting with the Prince Consort were the Prince of Wales and Duke of Cambridge, while in attendance were Colonel F. H. Seymour, Major-General Hon. R. Bruce, Captain George Grey, Colonel Clifton, and myself. Earl de Grey was of the party.

[Sidenote: Jan. 10.]

Finished my turn in waiting by hunting with the Prince Consort’s harriers.

[Sidenote: Jan. 17.]

To Berkeley Castle. Kind welcome from Sir Maurice and Lady Charlotte.

[Sidenote: Jan. 18.]

Hounds met at Sir G. Jenkins’s, who gave me a good breakfast. Woodland country; plenty of foxes killed.

[Sidenote: Jan. 20.]

Wild-goose shooting: novel and interesting, but hard work.

[Sidenote: Jan. 21.]

Hunted from Berkeley Castle. Colonel “the giant” in great force.

[Sidenote: Jan. 23.]

Daily hunting; foxes often found in trees!

[Sidenote: Jan. 24.]

My appointment to Cape command. By rail to London; put up with sister Mary Stephenson.

[Sidenote: Jan. 28.]

_Forte_, commissioned by Captain E. Turnour; Commander V. C. Buckley joined. Officers and men joined by end of week. Ship being manned by drafts from various ports; not allowed to enter seamen for ourselves.

[Sidenote: Feb. 11.]

Sunset, hoisted flag, white at mizzen.

[Sidenote: Feb. 12.]

Saluted flag of Commander-in-Chief, Vice-Admiral Edward Harvey. Issued contract; made clothing according to recent regulations, hats included: a mistake.

[Sidenote: March.]

Had some difficulty in getting Admiralty to exchange the heavy old launches for the new forty-foot pinnaces which are now supplied to all other ships. Considerable difference in the stowage of this ship and that of the _Raleigh_.

[Sidenote: Mar. 13.]

Joined Marquis of Queensberry, naval cadet, and Mr. Stephenson, mid. Dockyard people building a small poop for the accommodation of the captain, secretary and flag-lieutenant--the poop not to show above the hammock netting, and not to occupy more of upper deck than just abaft the after gun. Screw to be raised as in line-of-battleships: the best arrangement under all circumstances that could be made.

[Sidenote: Mar. 23.]

Cabins had already been fitted for the conveyance of Sir George Grey and staff. An order to prepare cabins for Lady Grey and maid, coming so late, deprived me of half my accommodation.

[Sidenote: April 3.]

In consequence of Her Majesty’s kind consideration, attended at Windsor as Groom-in-Waiting.

[Sidenote: Windsor, April 5.]

Attended confirmation of Prince Alfred. Lord George Lennox as Lord of Bedchamber to the Prince Consort.

[Sidenote: April 7.]

_Forte_ left Sheerness for Spithead. Cheered by the Norfolk Militia.

[Sidenote: April 10.]

Prince of Wales left for the Continent, attended by Hon. R. Bruce and Captain George Grey.

[Sidenote: April 12.]

My little happy holiday over, Her Majesty kindly hoping to see me back. Rejoined _Forte_ at Spithead and rehoisted flag. Salutes exchanged with Admiral Commander-in-Chief Wm. Bowles, C.B. Was informed that on way round from Sheerness a leak was discovered in the screw aperture.

[Sidenote: April 16.]

Steamed into harbour; secured alongside _Sultan_ hulk. Transported guns forward and all heavy weight to discover the leak.

[Sidenote: April 20.]

Ship taken into steam basin, preparatory to being docked. In taking her in, dockyard people managed to carry away jib-boom. No smoking allowed; shifted ship’s company to _Victorious_ hulk.

[Sidenote: April 21.]

Hauled into No. 7 dock, dockyard people stopping leak.

[Sidenote: April 23.]

Hauled out of basin, only just in time, ship hung in entrance. Another two minutes, and she must have grounded, as well as two three-deckers. Sundry sheets of copper were rubbed off on port side. Obliged to heel the ship to repair damage.

[Sidenote: April 27.]

Came to at Spithead.

[Sidenote: April 28.]

Noon, weighed, running for the Needles.

[Sidenote: April 29.]

10 P.M.--Came to in Plymouth Sound.

[Sidenote: Plymouth, April 30.]

Exchanged salutes with Commander-in-Chief, Vice-Admiral Sir Barrington Reynolds, K.C.B. 3.30 P.M., having embarked His Excellency Sir George and Lady Grey, Captains Speke and Grant, African travellers, friend Boileau, and others, weighed and left the Sound.

[Sidenote: May 9.]

3 P.M.--Came to in Funchal Roads, Madeira. While steaming in exchanged salutes 13 guns, with Flag-Officer Inman, whose flag, blue at the mizzen, was flying on board United States corvette _Constellation_, the first United States “Officer’s Flag” we had seen. Saluted also the Portuguese flag with 21 guns, and English Consul Erskine on his leaving the ship.

[Sidenote: May 12.]

Ship was visited by Lord and Lady Fortescue and family, also my kind friend of long standing, the late Consul, Mr. Stoddard. As soon as they were landed, weighed and made sail.

[Sidenote: May 24.]

Celebrated Her Majesty’s birthday by a dinner on the poop. At 8 P.M. that celebrated old beast, Neptune, hailed the ship, burning lights, etc., and then came on board amidst the usual downfall of water, and promised to pay his respects on the morrow to all such as had not before passed through his dominions, comprising three-fourths of those on board. He then took his departure for the night, to the relief of some and inconvenience of all, amidst fire and water-works, the light of his car being visible astern for an hour afterwards.

[Sidenote: May 25.]

His Oceanic Majesty came on board and performed the usual ceremony.

[Sidenote: June 3.]

10 A.M.--Steamed into Rio de Janeiro harbour. Returned salute from _Madagascar_. While running in, and after coming to, had to return and exchange no end of salutes. Brazilian Flag, 21 guns; Admiral’s salute, 13; French man-of-war brig, 13; and Prussian Commodore, 13.

[Sidenote: Rio, June 4.]

Passengers disembarked and proceeded to Petropolis. _Tribune_, 31, Captain Geoffrey Hornby, arrived from Pacific and exchanged salutes.

[Sidenote: June 7.]

Passengers returned. Weighed and stood out of Rio harbour.

[Sidenote: June 8.]

12.5 P.M.--Henry Hill, seaman, fell overboard while the ship was going 10 knots under sails and steam. Cutter fitted with Clifford’s admirable apparatus for lowering was down in the shortest time and the man saved.

[Illustration: Forte _at Rio._]

[Sidenote: June 9.]

An untoward event occurred during the first watch. Under extreme pressure from Captain Turnour and the surgeon, who stated that the Governor would either commit suicide or murder his wife, I consented to return to Rio Janeiro, and reached that port on the evening of the 12th. Next morning, having landed the Governor, Lady Grey, and maid, sent an officer to know when His Excellency would be ready to embark. He sent word he was then ready, and that if I would not write home what had occurred he would not. I kept _my_ word.

[Sidenote: June 13.]

Sailed, and arrived at Simon’s Bay on 4th July, 8 P.M. His Excellency was in such a hurry to convey to Admiral Sir Frederick Grey the fact of his arrival, that, unseen, he dropped himself into a shore boat and landed at Admiralty House.

[Sidenote: Simon’s Bay, July 5.]

Landed, after usual salutes, to pay respects to Admiral Sir F. Grey. I mentioned the Governor’s message to me at Rio, to the effect that if I would not write home what had occurred he would not. I ascertained that in his statement to Sir Frederick he made out that the proposition not to communicate home came, in the first place, from me to him. This untruth accounts for my subsequent treatment.

[Sidenote: July 8.]

The _Forte_ requiring a thorough refit, shifted flag to my friend Captain Algernon de Horsey’s ship, the _Brisk_, and with our travellers, Speke and Grant, prepared to visit the East Coast.

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